Let’s try a little experiment, because I know you your phone is in your hand or close by. Read this section then take a moment to swipe out of this blog. Open your photo album and take a scroll through your video folder. Take a mental note of how many of those moments you remember capturing and how many you forgot you had. Now, go take a look, then come right back. There’s a conversation we need to have.
Welcome back! Let’s get into this conversation. I have questions, you’ve got answers.
What made you save those clips? Were you trying to preserve memories? Were you simply living in the moment and wanted to document it?
If you’re a fan of Beyonce or Taylor swift, you’ve seen moments from their childhood home videos they’ve shared from the early 1990’s. These clips emphasize their talents, foreshadowing their ability to sell out stadiums all over the world. As their star rose, so did the value of those videos. Not just monetarily, but as documented proof their artistic light has always shined bright.
The beautiful thing about home videos from the late 1900’s is that you had to be intentional about who, what, when, where and why you were recording. Pulling out those oversized cameras was a chore. Purchasing enough tapes to satisfy one’s need for creating nostalgia in real time was expensive. To be honest, creating home videos was a luxury.
Fast forward to the early 2000’s and technology has leveled the playing field. We said goodbye to bulky cameras and expensive tapes to say hello to a camera that fits in our pocket. As an added touch of sophistication, we’re also able to make calls, text and surf the web.
Gone are the days of having to be intentional about the memories we record. For better or worse, we’re able to create moments of nostalgia with minimal prep. Sound like a win, but is it?
If we conducted a case study, recording one scene using a camcorder from the 90’s and a smart phone, there’s no competition. The visual and audio quality on the smart phone would win. If we compared the amount of storage on a tape and the storage on the cell phone, again, the cell phone wins. It’s when we compare the emotional value of the 90’s camera to smart phones that we start to see a difference.
With the convenience and ample storage of cell phones, we’re no longer forced to be intentional about the moments we create and record. So, like any sane person living in a social media driven world, we record everything.
Remember all those fancy features that making the cell phone more advantageous over the camcorder? It decreases the value of those experience. Not only did you stop living in the moment to record “the moment,” you now have too many clips to sift through, running the risk of them getting deleted or you simply capturing moments of little substance outside of the initial moment.
If we dig a little deeper, we’ll see the value of memories recorded on camcorders and cell phones becomes one of supply and demand. Technology has gifted us an endless supply of storage and like a kid set free in a candy store, we overindulge. And who has time to go back through all those clips? In effort to transition home videos from a luxury to a more reasonably priced commodity, we’ve inadvertently decreased the value in capturing life’s most precious moments.
So, what’s a maintainable remedy? I’m glad you asked. ASK FOR HELP! This is where a professional comes in handy.
If you’re a consumer on a budget who doesn’t have the luxury of expendable cash on hand, you may vote for the cell phone. Who could blame you? It’s easy to make an argument for cell phones. They’re easy to use, convenient and they get the job done.
Trying to act normal while having a stranger in your home with a fancy camera, microphones and lighting kit may feel like too big a production to produce natural interactions. Plus, you’re not trying to make a movie, you’re interested in documenting moments you and your family will enjoy looking back and reminiscing on. Is there even an argument for hiring a professional?
Yep! Sure is. The argument for hiring a professional is to cover all the things the cell phone lacks. Better quality. Professional sound. The experience knowing how to handle various situations to ensure the quality of your overall video is top tier.
Remember the home videos from Taylor Swift and Beyonce I mentioned earlier? These were moments that don’t necessarily require a professional. The main focus was the rising star, likely being filmed by a doting parent. But what about the times you want to experience the moment?
It’s hard to immerse yourself in the experience when you’re trying to focus on where to point the camera and ensuring you get the right angles while you’re also trying to be a part of the video.
So, which is better? Well, that depends on what you want the final outcome to be
“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember.”
~ L.M. Montgomery
I’m an advocate of having the best of both worlds. I’m not a psychic, but I foresee you being more likely to take time to watch those moments you and/or a professional have captured when they’re organized in a story and presented as a documentary film.
Home movie documentaries allows you and your family to have nostalgia as you reminisce while simultaneously creating new memories. This increases the emotional value of those memories. It’s a memento that tells the story of your family and helps you to remember the good times.
Let’s take a moment for a little self-reflection. Do you have an abundance of clips you forgot you captured? Have you decreased the value of life’s moments by recording everything instead of being in the moment? If you have, commit yourself to being more intentional about preserving your memories.
Not sure where to start? Contact me, I’d be happy to speak with you and discuss the beauty of preserving your memories.
If you take nothing else from this blog, remember to be intentional in creating memories and preserving life’s most precious moments.
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